How to Measure the Success of Your Volunteer Program

Key performance indicators, often referred to as KPIs, are an essential part of any nonprofit program. When chosen and tracked correctly, they can give us an at-a-glance look at a project or program’s performance. Think of your automobile’s dashboard, with all its gauges and indicator lights. These let you know if everything is OK or if you need to take action, like adding oil or stopping for gas.

KPIs for nonprofits work the same way. Some will tell you what kind of progress you’ve made, while others will alert you when you need to make a change. The specific data you choose is up to you. However, there are some basics to keep in mind when considering your mix.

Start with Statistics

KPIs generally revolve around quantitative measures. This makes comparisons easier and more objective. Just because numbers are involved, however, the measure doesn’t have to be a complicated one. In fact, the simpler the better.

Because these numbers will be a guiding light for everyone involved, you’ll want to use formulas that are as easy for line-level volunteers to understand as they are for executives. Stick with common concepts like averages and medians, so everyone is aware of what’s going on.

Review and Report

Depending on your situation, statistics could be assessed daily, weekly or monthly. However, in most instances, you don’t want to go more than a month.

After you’ve calculated them, the most important thing is to share your numbers on a regular basis. Those you supervise will have a concrete example of how their performance contributes to your organization. Those you report to will have tangible evidence that you are doing a good job or assurance that you are working to tweak things if necessary.

Some Specifics

Now that we’ve established some general guidelines, here is a list of some simple KPIs to get you started:

About The Author

Shari Tishman

Shari led Online Marketing and Communications at VolunteerMatch from 2010-2015. After working with nonprofits for 9 years, she moved over to the corporate sector and is now leading Inbound Marketing for a tech company in San Francisco.